Portable Multi-Use Ball Pit

ABSTRACT

A portable fenced-in ball playing area that includes a plurality of panels that have an upward slot on one end of the panel and a downward slot at the other end of the panel. The panels are assembled into a polygon shaped pit, such as for a Ga-ga pit, by fitment of upward and downward slots on adjacent panels. No tools are necessary for assembly. The panels can include hand holes for easy carrying. Some panels may have a top indentation or recess to assist children in entering or leaving the fenced-in ball playing area, such as a Ga-ga pit. These panels can be reversed so that the recess is facing downward to form a goal opening for a game using a ball, puck or the like.

The application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No.62/681,267, filed Jun. 6, 2018.

Background

Fenced-in playing areas are known. Particularly, the game of “Ga-ga”utilizes a fenced-in playing area. Ga-ga is played with one ball withthe goal of the players to strike each other with the ball within afenced-in area or “Ga-ga pit.” Players must dodge the ball by running ordodging or jumping. Players are eliminated if the ball strikes them onor below the knee. Two or more players can play the game simultaneouslyin the Ga-ga pit.

The Ga-ga pit is typically a polygonal fenced-in area such as an octagonor hexagon. The Ga-ga pit is configured with rigid flat walls about 2-3feet tall and is set on a relatively hard playing surface, such as anasphalt playground surface, to allow the ball to bounce and ricochet offthe hard playing surface and the walls.

US patent applications 2014/0332742 and 2015/0105185 and U.S. Pat.D62462 all describe Ga-ga Pits.

The present inventors have recognized that it would be desirable toprovide a Ga-ga pit that could be used outdoors and easily erectedindoors when outdoor play is prevented due to weather. The presentinventors have recognized that while it is known to provide permanentGa-ga pits outdoors in schoolyards, it would be desirable to provide aportable Ga-ga pit for use in the school gymnasium when the weatherprevents outdoor play, particularly during school recess or duringschool gym class.

The present inventors have recognized that while it is known to providepermanent Ga-ga pits outdoors in schoolyards, it would be desirable toprovide a portable Ga-ga pit that can be assembled quickly withoutfasteners or tools.

The present inventers have recognized that it would be desirable toprovide a Ga-ga pit that allowed for both a small group of players and alarge group of players. The present inventors have recognized that itwould be desirable to provide a fenced ball playing area that wasconvertible to different games. The present inventors have recognizedthat it would be desirable to provide a fenced ball playing area thatwas lightweight and durable.

Summary

An exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a portable fenced-inball playing area, especially for children, which comprises a pluralityof panels that have an upward slot on one end of the panel and adownward slot at the other end of the panel. The panels are assembledinto a polygon shaped pit, such as for a Ga-ga pit, by fitment of upwardand downward slots on adjacent panels. No tools are necessary forassembly. The panels can include hand holes for easy carrying. Somepanels may have a top indentation or recess to assist children inentering or leaving the fenced-in ball playing area, such as a Ga-gapit. These panels can be reversed so that the recess is facing downwardto form a goal opening for a game using a ball, puck or the like.

The panels provide a flexible system for creating a fenced-in play area.Standard panels of only two types can be used to create a playing pithaving high walls around the pit formed by a first type of panel and anoccasional recessed entryway or a goal opening by using a second type ofpanel. The panels are lightweight and durable. The panels allow forassembly indoors or outdoors. The panels provide an easy way for schoolteachers to set up a play pit in the school gymnasium during inclementweather when outdoor play is prevented.

The panels also provide convenient access for wheelchairs and childrenwith mobility limitations in that a panel can be removed easily withoutthe need for tools, or can be left unsecured at one end to be able toeasily slide or pivot open. This is advantageous for children who cannotclimb over the panel for entrance even with the recess on one panel foraccess.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fenced-in playing area according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a first style panel used in the assemblyof the fenced-in playing area shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a second style panel used in the assemblyof the fenced-in playing area shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate first style panel; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a panel stand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein indetail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the specific embodiments illustrated.

The application incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/681,267, filed Jun. 6, 2018.

Although the present specification is advantageously applied to theassembly of a Ga-ga pit, the invention encompasses any other type ofgame for which a fenced-in (or “walled-in”) playing area is desired.

FIG. 1 shows a fenced-in playing area 10 that is formed withinterlocking first panels 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d and interlocking secondpanels 16 a, 16 b, 16 c. Each panel includes a downward open verticalslot adjacent one end of the panel and an upward open vertical slotadjacent an opposite end of the panel. Each slot has a length of aboutone half or more of the height of its panel. In order to interlock, thedownward open vertical slot of one panel passes through the upward openvertical slot of an adjacent panel and fits over the adjacent panel. Theupward open vertical slot simultaneously passes through the downwardopen vertical slot of the one panel and fits over the one panel.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foreground panel 14 a includes a downward slot20 a and the adjacent panel 16 a has an upward slot 24 a. The panel 14 ahas been fit down onto the panel 16 a. The downward slot 20 a fits overthe panel 16 a and the upward slot 24 a fits over the panel 14 a. On anopposite end of the panel 14 a, an adjacent panel 14 b has been fit downonto the panel 14 a. The adjacent panel 14 b has a downward slot 20 bthat passes through an upward slot 24 b of the panel 14 a and fits overthe panel 14 a. Simultaneously, the upward slot 24 b passes through thedownward slot 20 b and fits over the panel 14 b. The interlocking ofdownward slots and upward slot is repeated at each joint between panels.

FIG. 2 illustrates the interlocking first panels 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d,14 e. The panel 14 a is illustrated with the understanding that thepanels 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 14 e are identical. The panel 14 a issubstantially a rectangular plate having a length L of about 96 inchesand a height H of about 27 inches. Adjacent one end is the downward openvertical slot 20 a. Adjacent an opposite end is the upward open verticalslot 24 b. The slots have a length LL in the height direction of about14 inches. The slots have a width W of about 0.9 inches. The panel has athickness of about ½ inch. Six hand holes 28 are arranged spaced apart,three adjacent to an upper edge 30 of the panel and three adjacent to alower edge 32 of the panel. The hand holes are about 4 inches long andwide enough for the insertion of human fingers to lift and handle thepanel. The panel can be rotated 180 degrees to where the upward openvertical slot 24 b becomes a downward open vertical slot and thedownward open vertical slot 20 a becomes an upward open vertical slot.The hand holes 28 being along both the top and bottom edges facilitatelifting the panel no matter the orientation of the panel.

FIG. 3 illustrates the interlocking second panels 16 a, 16 b, 16 c. Thepanel 16 a is illustrated with the understanding that the panels 16 b,16 c are identical. The panel 16 a is substantially a rectangular platehaving a length L of about 96 inches and a height H of about 27 inches.Adjacent one end is a downward open vertical slot 20 c. Adjacent anopposite end is the upward open vertical slot 24 a. The slots have alength LL in the height direction of about 14 inches. The slots have awidth W of about 0.9 inches. The panel 16 a has a thickness of about ½inch. The panel has an upper edge 40 and a lower edge 42.

A tapered recess 36, is indented from the lower edge 42. The recess 36has a depth D of about 11 inches. It has a width U at the lower edge 42of about 35 inches and a width X at a top of the recess of about 24inches.

Six hand holes 28 are arranged spaced apart, two adjacent to the loweredge 42 of the panel 16 a, adjacent opposite ends of the panel, and onejust above the recess 36, and three adjacent to a upper edge 40 of thepanel. The hand holes are about 4 inches long and wide enough for theinsertion of human fingers to lift and handle the panel.

The panel 16 a can be rotated 180 degrees to where the downward openvertical slot 24 a becomes an upward open vertical slot and the upwardslot 20 c becomes a downward open vertical slot. The hand holes 28 beingalong both the top and bottom edges facilitate lifting the panel nomatter the orientation of the panel. As shown in FIG. 3 the recess 36 isfacing downward. In this orientation, the panel 16 a provides a goalopening 50 (FIG. 1) for a game within the fenced-in area where an objectof the game is to pass a ball or puck or the like through the goalopening 50, similar to hockey or soccer. When the panel 16 a is rotated180degrees about the horizontal axis, it takes on the orientation ofpanel 16 c (FIG. 1) where the recess 36 functions as a lowered entryinto the fenced-in area, especially for smaller children who would notbe able to step over the full height of the panel.

The panels 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 14 e, 16 a, 16 b, 16 c areadvantageously composed of high density polyethylene for durability anda light weight.

As can be understood, the interlocking first panels and the interlockingsecond panels can be selected to form a pre-selected fenced-in area. Byusing all interlocking first panels 14 a, 14 b, etc., and oneinterlocking second panel 16 c in the orientation of panel 16 c, whenthe panels are interlocked using the downward and upward slots, asubstantially solid fenced-in area with a lowered entryway can beprovided. The number of panels can be selected to form a square, atriangle, a hexagon and octagon or other polygon shapes.

By using interlocking first panels 14 a, 14 b, etc., and one or moreinterlocking second panel 16 a in the orientation of panel 16 a in FIG.1, when the panels are interlocked using the downward and upward openvertical slots, a substantially solid fenced-in area with one or moregoal openings 50 can be provided. An additional panel 16 c, in theorientation of panel 16 c in FIG. 1, can also be provided for a loweredentryway. The number of panels can be selected to form a square, atriangle, a hexagon and octagon or other polygon shapes.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the first type panel 14 aa whichcan replace one or more or all of the panels 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 14e shown in FIG. 1. This panel is identical to the first panel 14 a andlike panels except an additional downward open vertical slot 20 aa andan additional upward open vertical slot 24 bb are added. These slotshave substantially the same dimensions as the slots 20 a, 24 b. Theslots 20 aa, 24 bb are located along the length of the panel between theslots 20 a, 24 b. The addition of these slots adds more flexibility tothe interlocking of the panels by allowing for a shorter panel(horizontally) by using the inside slots 20 aa, 24 bb and also allowsfor the use of the stand 70 as shown in FIG. 5. Additionally, the panels16 a, 16 b, 16 c and like panels can also have the two additional slots,one upward open vertical slot and one downward open vertical slot,between the slots 24 a, 20 c.

FIG. 5 illustrates a stand 70. The stand 70 includes three spaced aparthand holes 28, and an upward facing vertical slot 72 of about ½ theheight of the stand. The stand has a triangular shape with a narrow topedge 76 and a wider bottom edge 78. Other shapes for the stand areencompassed by the invention. The stand 70 is shown dashed in FIG. 4. Asshown in FIG. 4, the upward facing vertical slot 72 of the stand and thedownward facing vertical slot 20 aa of the panel mutually interlock. Thestand bottom edge rests on the ground and supports the panel 14 aa. Thestand could just as well be mutually interlocked with the slot 20 a ofthe panel 14 aa or any other panel shown in FIG. 1. The stands allow forone or both end of a panel, even if that end is not interlocked with anadjacent panel, to be nonetheless supported in a vertical orientation. Astand can be of a lesser height than the panel supported by the stand isalso encompassed by the invention.

The stands 70 provide opportunity to convert the traditional octagonalpit design into individual free standing entities. The individual panelscan then be utilized for other games and sports. The stands allow easytransformation into a variety of shapes other than for Ga-ga Ball. Thestands allow panels to be used as independent units or connected in alinear design. A long barrier can be created or can be used to form 90*angles.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation withrespect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended orshould be inferred.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A fenced-in game playing area, comprising;a plurality of panels, each panel having a thickness and an upward openslot adjacent to one end and a downward open slot adjacent an oppositeend; the slots having a length of at least have the height of itsrespective panel, the slots having a width greater than an adjacentpanel thickness, the panels engaged end to end to form a polygon shapedplaying area.
 2. The fenced-in playing area according to claim 1,wherein the polygon shaped area comprises an octagon shaped area.
 3. Thefenced-in playing area according to claim 1, wherein the polygon shapedarea comprises a hexagon shaped area.
 4. The fenced-in playing areaaccording to claim 1, wherein the playing area comprises a Ga-ga pit. 5.The fenced-in playing area according to claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe panels includes a recess from one edge of the panel to provide alowered entry location for a player to enter the playing area.
 6. Thefenced-in playing area according to claim 1, wherein at least one of thepanels forms a goal opening.
 7. The fenced-in playing area according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the panels includes a recess from oneedge of the panel to provide either a lowered entry location for aplayer to enter the playing area when set in one orientation or a goalopening when set in an alternate orientation.
 8. The fenced-in playingarea according to claim 1, wherein the polygon shaped area comprises anoctagon shaped area, wherein at least one of the panels includes arecess from one edge of the panel to provide a lowered entry locationfor a player to enter the playing area.
 9. The fenced-in playing areaaccording to claim 1, wherein the polygon shaped area comprises ahexagon shaped area, wherein at least one of the panels includes arecess from one edge of the panel to provide a lowered entry locationfor a player to enter the playing area.
 10. The fenced-in playing areaaccording to claim 1, wherein the polygon shaped area comprises anhexagon shaped area, and wherein at least one of the panels includes arecess from one edge of the panel to provide either a lowered entrylocation for a player to enter the playing area when set in oneorientation or a goal opening when set in an alternate orientation. 11.The fenced-in playing area according to claim 1, wherein the polygonshaped area comprises an octagon shaped area, and wherein at least oneof the panels includes a recess from one edge of the panel to provideeither a lowered entry location for a player to enter the playing areawhen set in one orientation or a goal opening when set in an alternateorientation.
 12. A panel for use in assembling a fenced-in playing area,the panel has a generally rectangular shape with a horizontal top edgeand a horizontal bottom edge and having an upward open vertical slotextending from the top edge adjacent one end and a downward openvertical extending from the bottom edge adjacent an opposite end. 13.The panel according to claim 12, wherein the slots have a length atleast half the height of the panel.
 14. The panel according to claim 12,wherein the panel includes a recess extending down from the top edge,the recess providing a lowered entry point when the panel is used toform fenced-in playing area.
 15. The panel according to claim 12,wherein the panel is configured to assemble with other like panels aGa-ga pit.